A gang of baby-faced burglars crashed their getaway car before being rounded up by a police helicopter and dogs near the M40.

Bill Mobey, 23, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons were part of the gang of three who were spotted loading up a black Peugeot hatchback with tools raided from an outhouse in Somerton Road, Souldern, on February 18 last year.

At around 10.30pm, the homeowner went to let the dog out into the back garden but it started barking.

READ MORE: Teen burglar tells judge to 'take care' as he walks from court

The woman heard the sound of doors slamming. Her husband went outside and was confronted by the sight of three people loading items into a car.

Prosecutor Zarah Dickinson told Oxford Crown Court: “He shouted at them and they all very quickly got into the car and drove off but crashed almost immediately on the bend leading out of the property.”

Police officers were quickly on the scene. Mobey and the younger thief were caught near the M40 – not far from the burgled property – after a police helicopter was scrambled and police dogs brought in to help with the search.

Found in the abandoned Peugeot were rolls of cable, power tools, car batteries and copper piping.

The lock to a stable door had been cut but nothing was taken from inside.

Oxford Mail:

In a victim personal statement read to the court by Ms Dickinson, the husband said the burglary had left his wife ‘very nervous’. “Although I’ve not been too badly affected by it, my wife was quite distressed and frightened. We have two children aged 13 and 15 and they’ve been spooked by what’s happened.”

Michael Goold, for Bill Mobey, said a recent short jail sentence for dangerous driving had had a salutary effect on his client.

There was a limited disturbance to the burgled property, he added.

Mobey, of Wimborne Avenue, Banbury, pleaded guilty before his trial to a single count of burglary.

Sentencing him, Judge Maria Lamb said: “You fall to be dealt with by this court for an offence of burglary. It was of an outhouse, it was close by to a house where people were present.

“At the time, the whole thing was very frightening for them. I hope you realise that.

“I am told you are sorry about that. That would sound a lot better if it had been accompanied by a guilty plea at an earlier stage, but there we go.”

She imposed 20 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered he do 100 hours of unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The younger boy’s case was sent back to Oxford Youth Court. He will be sentenced on Wednesday, April 27.

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